The image, taken by Jonathan Bachman for Reuters, shows a woman, who has been identified as Iesha L Evans, standing in a long dress in the face of a line of Louisiana state troopers dressed in riot gear outside of police headquarters. Evans looks calm and poised and almost seems to repel the two officers who are charging towards her.

Why we can't stop listening to the families of police shooting victims

Read more

She was reportedly one of 102 protesters arrested in Baton Rouge, along with the prominent activist DeRay Mckesson, who were detained on charges of obstructing the highway. Hundreds more were arrested across the country as protests continued in response to the police shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana.

Bachman, a New Orleans-based freelancer, told the BBC that Evans broke away from protesters and stood in front of the officers.

“I was on the side of the road photographing protesters arguing with police,” he said. “I looked over my right shoulder and saw the woman step onto the road. She was making her stand. She said nothing and was not moving. It was clear that the police were going to have to detain her.”

He said Evans was arrested shortly after.

The picture was shared widely on social media on Sunday. A post on Facebook by the prominent writer Shaun King garnered more than 35,000 likes. The photograph drew comparisons to other historic images such as those showing the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

Evans is reportedly a nurse in New York with a five-year-old child. After the arrest she wrote on a Facebook page that appeared to belong to her: “This is the work of God. I am a vessel! Glory to the most high! I’m glad I’m alive and safe.”